Developing Toothless for the latest 'How to Train Your Dragon': Aiming for a more domesticated appearance
Revamped Tale:
Meet Toothless, the captivating dragon with the friendly mug and the injured tail, who won our hearts as the star of the "How to Train Your Dragon" animated series. This beloved Night Fury first graced our screens back in 2010, kicking off a mega-popular franchise that includes three films, numerous TV shows, and shorts. This adorable dragon has become a must-watch for Gen-Z fans, with the animated series now transforming into an exciting live-action reboot.
Directed by Dean DeBlois, helmsman behind all three animated films, as well as the original "Lilo & Stitch," this live-action remake gives top priority to keeping Toothless's essence intact.
"Toothless has become our most recognizable dragon in the bunch," DeBlois shares over the phone. "He's got a lot of intelligence and personality that really shines through, especially in his expressive face, which resembles Stitch's with the big eyes, ear plates, and broad mouth."
To make this hybrid live-action/animated masterpiece work, the crew had to consider whether Toothless could convincingly blend with human actors and sets while retaining the charm of the original animated movies.
Enter visual effects supervisor Christian Manz, who joined forces with DreamWorks to test the feasibility of creating a real-life Toothless. Framestore, a British studio with a history of bringing beloved characters to life, was enlisted for the challenge, including creating Paddington Bear, Dobby from the Harry Potter universe, and Groot & Rocket Raccoon from the Marvel movies.
"We knew we weren't aiming for a real dragon, like those seen on Game of Thrones," explains Manz during a video chat. "But we needed Toothless' design—especially his facial features—to stay appealing and charming."
With Peter Cramer, president of Universal Pictures, initially expressing doubts whether Toothless would translate well, the crew drew inspiration from the Hippogriff, a fantastical creature from the 2004 film "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" as a benchmark for convincing believability.
So, are you ready for Toothless' enchanting return to the big screen? Let the adventure begin!
Blockbusters on the Horizon
This summer promises a thrilling mix of blockbusters filled with the perfect blend of beauty, action, and mystery. From superhero sagas to indie gems, there's something for every movie enthusiast this season.
Insights on Design:
- Searching for inspiration, the creative team behind Toothless drew from diverse sources, merging the South African rock agama lizard, the grey wolf, and saola antelope into one striking design. The combination resulted in the sleek and agile appearance of our beloved Night Fury.
- The initialToothless design for the live-action movie included a touch of fur in the neck region for a more mammal-like appearance, making him seem friendlier and more approachable.
- To create the smart animatronic dragon on set, the filmmakers studied the movements of large animals such as lions and eagles during their flights, applying this research to the gimbal-mounted animatronic wing structure.
- The upcoming summer blockbusters include a captivating blend of beauty, action, and mystery, with films ranging from superhero sagas to indie gems, ensuring something for every movie enthusiast.
- In the process of finding inspiration for the live-action Toothless, the creative team drew from diverse sources, merging the South African rock agama lizard, the grey wolf, and saola antelope into one striking design.
- To make Toothless seem friendlier and more approachable in the live-action movie, the filmmakers initially included a touch of fur in the neck region for a more mammal-like appearance.
- In an effort to create a smart animatronic dragon on set, the filmmakers studied the movements of large animals such as lions and eagles during their flights, applying this research to the gimbal-mounted animatronic wing structure.
